Published: Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 22, 2014 at 8:27 p.m.

The quarterback competition is over and Kalen Henderson will start under center for Nicholls State University against Air Force.

With a week to go before the Colonels and Falcons kick it off for real, Nicholls held a mock game on Friday at John L. Guidry Stadium as part of its preparation for the season opener.

Nicholls' season opener against Air Force is set for 1 p.m. Aug. 30 at Falcons Stadium.

While Nicholls will release its official depth chart next week, head coach Charlie Stubbs took the mystery out of quarterback competition by naming Henderson the starter with game week approaching.

Henderson, a senior, has competed against junior Tuskani Figaro and senior Beaux Hebert in fall camp for the position.

After being named the starter, Henderson said he is ready for the challenge.

"My attitude now is to help this team however I can. I do think it is important to have a starter named seven days for the first game because now I can get all the film study and work in practice. That should help us establish and a rhythm and get this offense going," Henderson said. "The competition was good and we all have our strengths. I'm just glad coach Stubbs has confidence in me to name me the starter and now I want to instill confidence in my teammates and help us win."

If not for a broken leg, Henderson may have become the starter last year after playing well in the 2013 season opener against Oregon and in the first half against Western Michigan. Henderson broke his leg against Western Michigan, and missed several games only to return late in the season.

Even though Henderson wasn't the same quarterback after his injury last season, he is healthy now and Stubbs expects to see the same quarterback that played against Oregon and Western Michigan.

"He is very talented and you got to think last year he did well against Oregon and had a great half against Western Michigan. He is just a talented player, but I do have a talented group," Stubbs said. "He is the starter right now and I hope he does awesome. With Tuskani we still have a redshirt year and we might not have enough snaps for everybody. But he is very receptive about redshirting and we feel like Tuskani can still be a special quarterback, but Kalen is too."

Stubbs tried to redshirt Figaro last season, but a concussion to then starter Beaux Hebert against Oregon and Henderson's broken leg led to Figaro starting and he responded with a record-setting season. Figaro set the single-season rushing record with 1,103 yards and his 100.3 and he became the first player at Nicholls to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in a season also. Figaro had 1,135 passing yards in 2013.

Stubbs said he wants to start the season with Henderson and Hebert listed on the depth chart, but after experiencing the quarterback injuries of last season, the fifth-year head coach also know how quickly a depth chart can change from game-to-game.

"That is the plan right now. I felt I need to name the starter right now so it would allow Kalen to take more of a leadership role. If they don't know where they stand, they might hold back, but now he can step up," Stubbs said. "Figaro will still be prepared and we have to have everyone ready to go. Whatever it takes, because I want to get this program not only winning games, but to be in a position to win a conference title in the last month of the season."

PREPARING FOR OPTION

While Friday's practice was focused on game-day preparation, there was still game planning going on for Air Force.

The defense worked on stopping Air Force's triple-option offense which is sure to test for Nicholls' revamped run defense.

Senior cornerback Byron Cobb said with the season a week away, the players are anxious and he expects the intensity at practice to increase next week.

"We felt we had a good camp and it is time to get ready for a game. Now, it is time to step up and bring the intensity and that is what we need next week. I think the guys are ready for it," Cobb said. "We are getting ready for the option and working against cut blocks. We had our scout team run plays against us and they are giving us a good look."

BACK TO SCHOOL

The Colonels also returned to the classroom as school began on Monday.

Henderson said having the semester begin does change the routine established in fall camp, but the first week of practice with school in session went well overall.

"It is a little different. I mean before we would just get up early in the morning and get right into football. Now, we are looking for classes and getting into school," Henderson said. "It really doesn't change our focus much and I am use to it. I mean it is fifth year I go through this so I know how to handle it and it isn't too big of a distraction."

NICHOLLS TO PLAY GEORGIA IN 2016

The Athens Banner-Herald reported on Friday that Nicholls and Georgia will meet in 2016 in Athens, Georgia.

The date of the game is still to be determined. The Colonels will receive a $525,000 guarantee for the game, according to the report.

INJURY LIST

Nicholls had several players not participating in Friday's practice due to injury.

Stubbs said he will know early next week if some injured players will return and possible play against Air Force.

"It will be close for some of them, but we are not sure and we have to listen to the doctors. It is a fine line and if you play them too early, they could get reinjured. So, you might want to bite the bullet and hold off so we could have them ready for conference," Stubbs said. "I know they are willing, but we just have to wait and see how it goes. We still have some time for them to heal and hopefully we will know more early next week."

<p>The quarterback competition is over and Kalen Henderson will start under center for Nicholls State University against Air Force.</p><p>With a week to go before the Colonels and Falcons kick it off for real, Nicholls held a mock game on Friday at John L. Guidry Stadium as part of its preparation for the season opener.</p><p>Nicholls' season opener against Air Force is set for 1 p.m. Aug. 30 at Falcons Stadium.</p><p>While Nicholls will release its official depth chart next week, head coach Charlie Stubbs took the mystery out of quarterback competition by naming Henderson the starter with game week approaching.</p><p>Henderson, a senior, has competed against junior Tuskani Figaro and senior Beaux Hebert in fall camp for the position.</p><p>After being named the starter, Henderson said he is ready for the challenge.</p><p>"My attitude now is to help this team however I can. I do think it is important to have a starter named seven days for the first game because now I can get all the film study and work in practice. That should help us establish and a rhythm and get this offense going," Henderson said. "The competition was good and we all have our strengths. I'm just glad coach Stubbs has confidence in me to name me the starter and now I want to instill confidence in my teammates and help us win."</p><p>If not for a broken leg, Henderson may have become the starter last year after playing well in the 2013 season opener against Oregon and in the first half against Western Michigan. Henderson broke his leg against Western Michigan, and missed several games only to return late in the season.</p><p>Even though Henderson wasn't the same quarterback after his injury last season, he is healthy now and Stubbs expects to see the same quarterback that played against Oregon and Western Michigan.</p><p>"He is very talented and you got to think last year he did well against Oregon and had a great half against Western Michigan. He is just a talented player, but I do have a talented group," Stubbs said. "He is the starter right now and I hope he does awesome. With Tuskani we still have a redshirt year and we might not have enough snaps for everybody. But he is very receptive about redshirting and we feel like Tuskani can still be a special quarterback, but Kalen is too."</p><p>Stubbs tried to redshirt Figaro last season, but a concussion to then starter Beaux Hebert against Oregon and Henderson's broken leg led to Figaro starting and he responded with a record-setting season. Figaro set the single-season rushing record with 1,103 yards and his 100.3 and he became the first player at Nicholls to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in a season also. Figaro had 1,135 passing yards in 2013.</p><p>Stubbs said he wants to start the season with Henderson and Hebert listed on the depth chart, but after experiencing the quarterback injuries of last season, the fifth-year head coach also know how quickly a depth chart can change from game-to-game.</p><p>"That is the plan right now. I felt I need to name the starter right now so it would allow Kalen to take more of a leadership role. If they don't know where they stand, they might hold back, but now he can step up," Stubbs said. "Figaro will still be prepared and we have to have everyone ready to go. Whatever it takes, because I want to get this program not only winning games, but to be in a position to win a conference title in the last month of the season."</p><p>PREPARING FOR OPTION</p><p>While Friday's practice was focused on game-day preparation, there was still game planning going on for Air Force.</p><p>The defense worked on stopping Air Force's triple-option offense which is sure to test for Nicholls' revamped run defense.</p><p>Senior cornerback Byron Cobb said with the season a week away, the players are anxious and he expects the intensity at practice to increase next week.</p><p>"We felt we had a good camp and it is time to get ready for a game. Now, it is time to step up and bring the intensity and that is what we need next week. I think the guys are ready for it," Cobb said. "We are getting ready for the option and working against cut blocks. We had our scout team run plays against us and they are giving us a good look."</p><p>BACK TO SCHOOL</p><p>The Colonels also returned to the classroom as school began on Monday.</p><p>Henderson said having the semester begin does change the routine established in fall camp, but the first week of practice with school in session went well overall.</p><p>"It is a little different. I mean before we would just get up early in the morning and get right into football. Now, we are looking for classes and getting into school," Henderson said. "It really doesn't change our focus much and I am use to it. I mean it is fifth year I go through this so I know how to handle it and it isn't too big of a distraction."</p><p>NICHOLLS TO PLAY GEORGIA IN 2016</p><p>The Athens Banner-Herald reported on Friday that Nicholls and Georgia will meet in 2016 in Athens, Georgia.</p><p>The date of the game is still to be determined. The Colonels will receive a $525,000 guarantee for the game, according to the report.</p><p>INJURY LIST</p><p>Nicholls had several players not participating in Friday's practice due to injury.</p><p>Missing the practice were offensive linemen Chris Cockran, Hunter Alleman and James Sherrill; linebackers Nick LeBlanc, Brandon Bolden and Lowell Willams, defensive lineman Tyler Roberts, wide receiver Kevian Deleon and defensive back Cole Spear.</p><p>Stubbs said he will know early next week if some injured players will return and possible play against Air Force.</p><p>"It will be close for some of them, but we are not sure and we have to listen to the doctors. It is a fine line and if you play them too early, they could get reinjured. So, you might want to bite the bullet and hold off so we could have them ready for conference," Stubbs said. "I know they are willing, but we just have to wait and see how it goes. We still have some time for them to heal and hopefully we will know more early next week."</p>